Imaging Informatics

Imaging informatics (also known as radiology informatics, a component of wider medical or healthcare informatics) includes systems to transfer images and radiology data between radiologists, referring physicians, patients and the entire enterprise. This includes picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), wider enterprise image systems, radiology information. systems (RIS), connections to share data with the electronic medical record (EMR), and software to enable advanced visualization, reporting, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, analytics, exam ordering, clinical decision support, dictation, and remote image sharing and viewing systems.

Example of a cardiovascular information system (CVIS) cath lab reporting module with a coronary tree model that will auto complete sections of the report based on how the cardiologist modifies the model. Image from the ScImage booth at ACC 2022. Photo by Dave Fornell

VIDEO: 4 key trends in cardiovascular information systems, according to Signify Reseach

Signify Research shares the latest big trends in cardiovascular IT systems, including the role of EMR cardiology modules vs. third-party CVIS, structured reporting, integration into enterprise imaging and inclusion of ambulatory surgical centers. 

Sky Lakes Medical Center, Oregon, discusses how the hospitals IT team overcame a ransomware attack in 2020 during the height of COVID that took down their entire network and how radiology recovered within two weeks.. 

VIDEO: How radiology was restored after a ransomware attack at Sky Lakes Medical Center in Oregon

John Gaede, director of information systems, Sky Lakes Medical Center, Oregon, discusses how the hospital's IT team overcame a ransomware attack in 2020 and restored radiology in about two weeks.

Example of artificial intelligence generated measurements to quantify the size of a lung cancer nodule during a followup CT scan to see if the lesion is regressing with treatment. This type of automation can aid radiologists by doing the tedious, time consuming work. Photo by Dave Fornell

8 trends in radiology technology to watch in 2023

Here is a list of some key trends in radiology technology from our editors based on our coverage of the radiology market.

How EHR 'choice architecture' for imaging could be wasting time and money

When choosing and implementing an electronic health record system, it is important to consider how the system’s architecture might affect providers’ decision-making. 

Lack of transparency in AI research limits reproducibility, renders work 'worthless'

A recent analysis found that a significant amount of studies do not provide information pertaining to their raw data, source code or model. As a result, up to 97% of these studies do not produce systems that are fit to be used in real-world clinical scenarios. 

An example of artificial intelligence (AI) automated detection of a intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in. a CT scan used to send alerts to the stroke acute care team before a radiologist even sees the exam. Example shown by TeraRecon at RSNA 2022.

VIDEO: Radiology AI aids acute care and other departments

Sanjay Parekh, PhD, senior market analyst with Signify Research, explains how some radiology AI is being adopted outside of radiology departments to improve care.

Example of AI automated detection and highlighting of critical lung findings on a chest X-ray for a possible lung cancer nodule and fibrosis. Example shown by AI vendor Lunit.

VIDEO: Radiology AI trends at RSNA 2022

Sanjay Parekh, PhD, senior market analyst with Signify Research, discusses trends in radiology AI seen on the expo floor and in sessions at RSNA 2022.

Dynamic lung air flow analysis just using X-ray without any contrast with new technology from 4D Medical.

PHOTO GALLERY: New technology and trends at RSNA 2022

Images from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2022 annual meeting Nov. 27- Dec. 1 in Chicago. The gallery includes new technologies and a look at sights around the world's largest radiology conference. 

Around the web

The nuclear imaging isotope shortage of molybdenum-99 may be over now that the sidelined reactor is restarting. ASNC's president says PET and new SPECT technologies helped cardiac imaging labs better weather the storm.

CMS has more than doubled the CCTA payment rate from $175 to $357.13. The move, expected to have a significant impact on the utilization of cardiac CT, received immediate praise from imaging specialists.

The newly cleared offering, AutoChamber, was designed with opportunistic screening in mind. It can evaluate many different kinds of CT images, including those originally gathered to screen patients for lung cancer. 

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